Denis Noble, a physiologist at Oxford University, began using these equations to model heart cells almost 30 years ago.

ECONOMIST: Model behaviour

Their model is based on equations which describe the speed, direction and temperature of the winds that fan the flames.

ECONOMIST: Computer models may soon help to predict forest fires

Dr Hunter and his colleague Bruce Smaill have done the research that has allowed Dr Noble and Dr Winslow to knit their equations for single cells into a model of an entire organ.

ECONOMIST: Model behaviour

One solution is to modify the coin-tossing model--to add bells and whistles until the equations match the observations.

FORBES: Mandelbrot: A Math Maverick Takes Stock

Sagarin, who has one of the older and more respected prediction equations in the business, said a year or two of success does not mean a model will continue to foretell the outcome of the tournament correctly.

CNN: Computer model says UNC will win tournament